Aizawl, Jul 20 : The Centre has given September 30 deadline to the Mizoram Government for implementing the Food Security Act, an official of the State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department said here.

John Tanpuia, Deputy Director of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, however, said that there has been no replies from the Centre on many queries and explanations sought by the State Government including profit margin for the retailers, cost of transportation and other modalities in implementing the scheme, reports PTI.

The Centre had given several deadlines for implementation of the Food Security Act by the States, but this would be the last deadline, according to the instruction from the Government of India.

Earlier, State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister John Rotluangliana informed the State Assembly that implementation of the Food Security Scheme would lift the burden of the State Government to provide rice for all the people of the State.

The heavy burden of subsidy to the State exchequer would also be lifted while many people in the State would suffer due to the implementation of FSS in the State, Rotluangliana said.

Newmai News adds: Rotluangliana said that FSA will cover only 6,06,000 families and there will be no more BPL families but only AAY families, who are entitled to get 35 kg of rice per month.

The Minister said this while interacting with the new village council members of Rawpuichhip, Dapchhuah, Dampui, Mamit and Lengpui villages at a MZP Mamit felicitation programme on Thursday.

About half of the Mizoram population shall not be covered by the FSA, the Minister said, adding, however, that the State Government is taking steps so that even the families not covered by the Act may get ration as before.

The Minister called on the village leaders to form a selection committee for the implementation of FSA in their respective villages and asked for selection of people who are really in need of the government provision, not along party lines.